Having a heart for two groups: RAFFLE, ANNUAL SHOW TO HELP NORTH BROOKFIELD ORGANIZATIONS BY DAVID DORE, NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER NORTH BROOKFIELD — There will be a new twist to this year’s Heart to Heart Foundation Fun Day on the North Brookfield common. Some of the same acts that perform every year will be returning, including Heart to Heart founder Richard “Dick” Fiske Sr.’s group the Korn Kobs. And the money raised will again be used to help children with chronic diseases and their families. Sitting at a table at the Aug. 2 Fun Day on the Common will be representatives from the North Brookfield chapter of Hearts for Heat, which is working with Heart to Heart on a fundraising raffle to raise needed funds. It all started with a call a few months ago from Bob Laflamme, owner of Crowley Fuel and Hearts for Heat supporter, to Fiske asking if there was any way Heart to Heart could help the year-old group. “For this request, I couldn’t take away from what I was doing for the kids,” Fiske said. He met last month with Hearts for Heat board members, where the idea for a lottery ticket raffle was born. “That was his brilliant idea,” said Hearts for Heat chapter President Sue Lewandowski, referring to Fiske. Five hundred tickets will be sold for the Heart to Heart(s) for Heat Ticket Raffle at $10 apiece, with the profits to be split between the two organizations. First prize will be $500 worth of lottery tickets, with second prize $300 in lottery tickets and third prize $200 in tickets. The winner will be drawn at the Aug. 2 Fun Day on the Common. Tickets are available at Bob’s Deli, the Gilbert Street branch of North Brookfield Savings Bank, Algoo’s Package Store and Statz Sports Bar and Grill, all in North Brookfield, or by contacting Fiske at (508) 867-6283, Michelle Rhault at (508) 867-9475 or Lewandowski at sue@heartsforheat.org. Since forming almost a year ago, Lewandowski said, the North Brookfield chapter of Hearts for Heat has helped 15 families in town make their homes comfortable in cold weather. Money raised through the raffle will add to the $5,000 the group was able to raise in four months last year. Helping others is not unusual for Fiske, who can be seen around town mowing lawns for people cannot afford to do it otherwise. “I get more of a kick out of doing jobs like that for nothing than I would if I got paid,” Fiske said. Over the last seven years, his Heart to Heart Foundation has provided assistance to about 30 children and 10-12 adults with chronic diseases, along with scholarships to seniors at David Prouty High School and North Brookfield High School. He holds two shows annually: one during the summer and another around Christmastime. This year’s Fun Day on the common, to be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, will feature Charlie Lask as Neil Diamond, Donna Lee as Patsy Cline. Also scheduled to perform are the Nashville Blues Band, the George Reeves Blue Grass Band, Smile Time Comedian Jeannie O, local talent, David Fiske, the Marshall Smith Band, the St. Patrick’s Parade Dancers and the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Dancers. New this year will be a performance by Warren resident and clown James P. Allard, pony rides and two “bouncy houses” for the kids, games, a horseshoe tournament and a yard sale. The day will also feature face painting, raffles, plenty of food (from hot dogs and hamburgers to sausage grinders) and a stage show. “This is supposed to be the biggest show of all of them,” Fiske said. To sign up for the horseshoe tournament, call Rhault by Sunday, July 26. The foundation is offering a chance for people who want to get rid of empty soda and beer bottles and cans to win some cash. Anyone who contributes at least 100 containers, Fiske said, will be entered into a raffle for cash prizes. People should call him first to set up a drop off time, Fiske said. He thanked companies such as Gillette Restaurant Equipment and Spencer Rental (who will provide tents, Fryolators and the “bouncy houses”), people who donated items for the raffles and the members of the foundation’s board for their assistance. On the board are former Police Chief Harbig Thomasian, Claudia Thomasian, Claudette Marshall, Jim and Maryanne Alexander, Richard Fiske Jr., David Fiske, new foundation secretary Michelle Rhault (who performed at last year’s show) and Fiske’s wife, Jean, the board’s newest member. Keith Churchill, John Harrison and Joseph Jablonski are coordinating the children’s games. “Without the help, it would be almost impossible to have the shows,” Fiske said. The difference the Heart to Heart Foundation has made can be seen through letters from people it has helped, expressing feelings like the assistance kept their family together. “We’ve done so much to make people happy, which makes me happy,” Fiske said. “ ... I still consider helping children out the greatest ambition of my life.” David Dore may be reached at (508) 909-4140, or by e-mail a t ddore@stonebridgepress.com.